The Chronicle went to the Te Tai Hauauru candidates for comment on the issues of the electorate, as part of our 2014 election coverage.
The questions:
1: Are Maori telling you they are better off or worse off in the past three years? ¦2: Is tertiary education and training becoming more available to Maori? Jobs?
3: Whanau Ora - does it need Tariana Turia or is it embedded (with funding) now? Is it making, or will it make, a difference?
4: How should the Whanganui River settlement money ($30 million for river health and well-being, $80 million redress) be spent/invested?
5: What is the best thing you personally have done in the last year?
Jack McDonald
Green Party
1: Definitely worse off. Inequality between Maori and Pakeha has increased over the last six years and 35,000 more children are in severe poverty under National. Unemployment is still at record high, and wages are stagnant while the cost of living soars.
2: Tertiary education and apprenticeships are still out of reach for many rangatahi Maori. The current government has made higher education less accessible by cutting allowances and not relieving the burden of debt. The Green Party would establish a Student Green Card to make off-peak public transport free for all students and apprentices.
3: There's a real risk that Whanau Ora would be scrapped if parties don't commit to its survival. The Greens strongly support Whanau Ora. It has been severely underfunded by National and so it can't currently achieve its full potential. We want to review the scheme with a view to strengthen it.
4: It is entirely in the hands of iwi and hapu as to how they manage their own resources, so it's not for me to tell them what to do. However, in general I think iwi should focus on economic development rather than core social services that are the responsibility of government. 5: Decide to stand for Parliament. I've thoroughly enjoyed travelling around the electorate and meeting with whanau to talk about issues important to them. Hopefully the Greens reach 15 per cent of the party vote so I can be elected as a second MP for Te Taihauauru and represent their interests in Parliament.
Chris McKenzie
Maori Party
1: Almost the entire world is worse off than we were three years ago as we recover from the global financial crisis that was not of our own making. Times are tough for our people but we are finally coming out the other side and it is time to really focus on rebuilding within our families and communities
2: This week I will attend Te Huinga Tauira the national Maori student conference. When I was young very few Maori attended tertiary training. Many more do today in every field and we must continue to support this trend
3: Tariana would be disappointed if Whanau Ora was dependant solely on her. It is an approach that says our destiny can be in our own hands and not in the hands of departments or services. Whanau Ora is lived every day by whanau around the country and will be championed forever by people including Tariana
4: The Whanganui River Settlement monies should be used on whatever the mana whenua believe are the priorities. They have been spectators as others have made decisions for the river and they have watched its degradation over time. I expect river restoration will be high on the agenda
5: The best thing I did this year was spend time with my beautiful wife and family laughing and playing whilst considering whether I should put my hand up to serve the people of Te Tai Hauauru. I was so very proud of my kids who encouraged me and promised to help with the campaign. It has been a real family affair and the biggest and best decision of my life.
Adrian Rurawhe
Labour Party
1: They are telling me that they are worse off, that they are struggling to make ends meet and are very concerned about the level of unemployment. They are pleased that Labour will raise the minimum wage to $16, and support whanau with our Best Start package.
2: Labour has a proud record of supporting Maori in tertiary education. The increase in Maori participation in tertiary education can be linked to the success of the last Labour Government where we nearly doubled participation between 1999 and 2008. Importantly we will restore student allowances for postgraduate students, reinstate post-doctoral fellowships and undertake a full review of the student support system.
3: The Whanau Ora policy has not worked out the way it was originally intended. We will review and evaluate the policy , and take forward the essential parts that work into future thinking about Whanau Ora. We will be asking the Whanau Ora commissioning agents about their budget priorities and how they will be supporting Whanau Ora providers.
4: All decisions regarding Ruruku Whakatupa: Whanganui River Settlement are matters for the people of Whanganui to decide. Whanganui have achieved a stunning settlement, that breaks new ground and gives legal status and recognition of Te Awa Tupua.
5: My team and I have had a programme of canvassing the voters in Te Tai Hauauru. I have knocked on hundreds of doors ... It's been a privilege to speak to the people of Te Tau Hauauru about the issues that are important to them, and to tell them about how the Labour Party intends to address these issues. Attending the Aotea regional Kapa Haka competition was also pretty good.
Jordan Winiata
Mana Movement
1: Concerns for Maori are still being heard as I travel the electorate and many are saying they are worse off in many areas and better off in very few. Maori are concerned about the increase of living costs, accessibility and opportunities for employment, lack of investment in rural areas and small towns, investment in better education opportunities, access to quality healthcare which is affordable, and access to hospitals and high dependent care.
Concerns are on the rise for full investment and sustainability of Kura Kaupapa Maori, Kohanga Reo, Whare Kura and Whare Wananga, including mainstream schools. Maori are expressing more concern than ever in relation to young Maori suicide and the negative impacts of drugs, gambling and alcohol.
Maori may be better off in some areas but more is needed and so many of Te Tai Hauauru feel worse off.
2: The availability for training and tertiary education for many rural Maori is very hard to access. The big concern is the all-round affordability to study no matter where they are situated. There is definitely a need to develop the availability and support. I also have found many whanau have completed their tertiary education studies and still cannot find employment especially those who have fully invested into getting a high education to work within their own communities. 3: Firstly I acknowledge the work of Tariana Turia and her effort to bring change and development for the people of Te Tai Hauauru. I have much respect for Tariana. Whanau Ora was designed and established to work for the people, however the funding was nowhere near enough for the project to reach its full potential. Over $1 billion was required and Whanau Ora was short changed with crumbs of about $150 million. Whanau Ora is something that Maori have always done and understand very well.
4: This decision should be up to the people of Whanganui. They know their priorities and definitely have the intelligence to make the best decisions for the awa.
5: In the past year I have dedicated my efforts towards my iwi who are progressing their WAI claims through the Waitangi Tribunal. This has been a challenging but rewarding path. The development and sustainability of Maori wardens is also an important part of my life - they play a critical role in our communities, iwi, hapu and whanau.